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I'm in the process of reading "Warbaby! by Larry Ruth.
Looking through the wartime data I find that:
1. Production tests were run on 5 Inland produced M1 Carbines, randomly chosen from production - tests were run on Aug 30, 31 and September 1to 7, 1942 at Aberdeen. The s/ns chosen for testing were 9570, 10707, 12893, 13109 and 13242 - all having been made before Sept. 1, 1942. These were standardized tests. Note the serial numbers chosen.
2. M1A1 production began, undercontract in Nov. 1942 - by the end of Oct. '42, Inland had made 39,554 serial numbered carbines. By this reckoning the lowest serial numbered M1A1 would be some where above 39,554.
3. Serial number in the 115K range would have been made sometime in Jan. 1943 - during that month Inland made34,894 M1 and approx. 9,900 M1A1.
Total production of the M1A1 which ceased in December of '44 was right around 140,000 pieces.
This book is a treasure trove for Carbine collectors or anyone who wants to know the FULL story behind the Light Rifle/Carbine development. I even learned the H&R had submitted two versions of E. Reisings light rifle during the early stages of testing and later Marlin submitted a modified version of the Reising light rifle.
A good book - a slow read - but full of facts and figures.
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